Kenyan youngster Emmanuel Kiprono has credited double Olympic gold medalist Beatrice Chebet for inspiring his sensational 3000m winning run at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, USA on Friday, 7 August.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsKiprono, 17, made history at Hayward Field, claiming gold in a Championship Record time of 7:28.28, which fell just 0.09 seconds below Yomif Kejelcha’s World Junior Record time of 7:28.19 set in 2016.Kenyan youngster wins gold in Championship Record time at WU20sLeading from the gun, the Form Three student at St. Francis Kimuron Boys High School put together one of the most dominant performances at the event, finishing over 19 seconds in front of his closest chaser – Alois Abraham of France – who took silver in 7:47.79.The bronze medal went to Ojiro Honda, setting a Japanese U20 record of 7:48.49.##NAJAVA_MECA_9883804##What was unbeknownst to many, however, was that the run had been inspired by another Kenyan athlete, who had a year ago, left many watching similarly astounded at the same track.“When I saw Beatrice Chebet break the world record on this field in the 5,000m last year, I knew it was a fast one,” Kiprono told Nation Sports post-race, referring to Chebet’s world record time of 13:58.06, set at the Prefontaine Classic – a Wanda Diamond League meeting – in Eugene on 5 July 2025. “I wanted to perform well, and I’m excited to have won gold, running such a fast time today.”©World AthleticsThe win was Kiprono’s first major gold in his young career, having narrowly missed out on victory at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida earlier this year.Then, Kiprono was just two seconds away from a prestigious gold in the U20 eight kilometers Race, taking silver behind Frankline Kibet in a time of 23:20.Kenya wins three medals on Day One of World Athletics U20 ChampionshipsReflecting on that moment, Kiprono said: “After missing out on the World Cross Country junior title, I was devastated, but winning today is huge for me. I would like to dedicate this medal to my parents and my coach. My mother called me to say that a priest had come to the house to pray for me, and that the prayers had worked.”Commonwealth Games silver medalist Ndangiri suspended for doping Thanks to his exploits, the youngster, who hails from Kitany, Elgeyo Marakwet, will earn Ksh2 million, as part of the new reward scheme promised by the Kenyan Government.On how he would use the cash, Kiprono said: “I will use the money to build a house for my parents and pay my siblings’school fees. The rewards are really motivational, especially for the juniors.”
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